Device for adjusting the incline of back rests

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for adjusting the incline of back rests, especially of camping chairs and lawn chairs, wherein the locking action of the back rest is realized by an edge wedging mechanism. It is an object of the invention to propose a device for adjusting the incline of the backrest which makes a continuous adjustment of the incline possible in connection with a simple construction. The object of the invention is solved in that the locking action is released by lifting at least one arm rest ( 5 ).

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a device for adjusting the incline ofback rests, especially for camping chairs and lawn chairs, wherein thelocking action of the back rest is realized by an edge wedgingmechanism.

[0002] In known camping furniture the incline of the back rest isadjusted in that both arm rests are lifted and then moved to the back orto the front. The desired position can then be secured in that the armrests are lowered again and locked in a catch integrated in the armrests. The positioning is not continuous in this arrangement. The numberof positioning possibilities depends on the number of catches in the armrest.

[0003] Moreover, a continuous adjusting device, based on the principleof edge wedging, is known. A locking rod which is fixedly connected withthe arm rest is clamped by pulling or pushing the arm rest to the frontby means of a movable metal plate. If it is desired to incline the backrest to the rear, it is required to release the wedging action in orderto allow a movement to the rear. In the known device this is realized byactuating a lever mechanism which changes the position of the metalplate such that the free movement of the back rest to the rear ispossible.

[0004] The construction of this mechanism is very complex.

[0005] The object of the invention is to propose a device for adjustingthe incline of back rests which makes a continuous adjustment of theincline possible in connection with a simple construction.

[0006] The object of the invention is solved in that the locking actionis released by lifting at least one of the arm rests.

[0007] With this construction it is possible to completely eliminate thecomplex lever mechanism. A further great advantage of the invention isto be seen in that the function is much easier to understand for thecustomer because he is normally used to catches integrated in the armrests of lawn chairs. Accordingly, it is possible for the customer touse a lawn chair which is furnished with the device for adjusting theincline of back rests as claimed in the instant patent without needingfurther explanations.

[0008] Advantageous further developments are described in the dependentclaims.

[0009] Embodiments of the invention will be explained in the followingwith the aid of the drawings.

[0010] It is shown in:

[0011]FIG. 1 a schematic basic illustration of the straight metal plate;

[0012]FIG. 2 a schematic basic illustration with curved metal plate;

[0013]FIG. 3 a schematic basic illustration of the position of therelease bolt;

[0014]FIG. 4 a schematic basic illustration of the position of the metalplate in the slide;

[0015]FIG. 5 a schematic basic illustration in a front view;

[0016]FIG. 6 an illustration of the device in the disassembled state;and

[0017]FIG. 7 an illustration of the device in the assembled stage.

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a locking rod 1 which is guided through a bore 2 (seeFIG. 6) in a metal plate 3. The reference numeral 4 indicates theinitial position. When the locking rod 1 is moved by pulling or pushingan arm rest 5 (see FIGS. 6, 7) in the direction of arrow 6, the metalplate 3, because of the frictional connection between the metal plate 3and the locking rod 1, is pivoted into the clamping position 7. Thisresults in an edge wedging action on the edges 8, 9. A further movementin the direction of arrow 6 is not possible. A movement of the lockingrod 1 counter to the direction of arrow 6 can be performed at any timebecause the metal plate 3 is then returned into its initial position 4so that the bore 2 and the locking rod 1 are aligned again.

[0019]FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1, with the exception that the metalplate 3 in this representation is comprised of two planes 10, 11 whereinone plane is bent relative to the other plane by 25°.

[0020] In comparison to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows additionally a release bolt12. When the arm rest 5 is lifted (see FIGS. 6, 7), it moves from thelower end of the plane 10 of the metal plate 3 in the upward directionand presses the metal plate 3 to the left until the bore 2 (see FIG. 6)and the locking rod 1 are aligned. Now the locking rod 1 can be movedeasily in the direction of arrow 6; when the arm rest 5 (see FIGS. 6, 7)is lowered, the release bolt 12 is again moved downwardly so that againan edge wedging action of the metal plate on the edges 8, 9 occurs.

[0021]FIG. 4 shows a schematic basic illustration of the position of themetal plate in a slide 13. In this representation it should be noted, inparticular, that the locking rod 1 is guided through further guides 14,15 in the slide 13.

[0022]FIG. 5 shows in a front view a possible position of the releasebolt 12 relative to the metal plate 3. The force of a spring 16 acts onthe metal plate in the direction of arrow 6. It can be clearly seen thatthe release bolt 12 is guided in two grooves 17, 18 of the arm rest 5(see FIGS. 6, 7). The slide 13 which is guided by the release bolt 12 inthese grooves 17, 18 is not shown in this schematic representation.

[0023] In FIGS. 6 and 7 the entire device is illustrated in aperspective view. A locking rod 1 connected to the arm rest 5 is guidedthrough a bore 2 in a metal plate 3 which is spring-mounted on a slide13. In addition, two further guides 14, 15 are provided on the slide 13.In the slide 13 a release bolt 12 is supported in a vertical cutout 19.In addition, the release bolt 12 has the object to guide the slide 13 inthe grooves 17 and 18 of the arm rest 5. The legs of the chair (notillustrated) are connected to the slide 13. On the top side 20 of thearm rest 5 the slide is secured against sliding out.

[0024] The back rest position and thus the locking rod are locked inthat the locking rod 1 is moved by pulling or pushing the arm rest 5 inthe direction of arrow 6 because then the metal plate 3 is wedged on thelocking rod 1. When it is now desired to release the locking action, thebore 2 in the metal plate 3 must be brought into exact alignment withthe locking rod 1 so that the slide 13, on which the chair legs arefastened, can slide to the front or the back. A sliding movement counterto the direction of arrow 6 is possible without problems because themetal plate 3, which is spring mounted at a slant, automatically standsup so that the bore 2 and the locking rod 1 are aligned. If it isdesired to move the slide 13 in the direction of arrow 6, the metalplate 3 must be kept in the upright position in order to preventclamping on the locking rod 1. This is achieved by lifting the arm rest5 wherein the release bolt 12 can be moved in the vertical cutout 19 inthe upward direction along the plane 11 of the metal plate 3. The metalplate 3 is then erected against the force of the spring 16 so that thebore 2 and the locking rod 1 are aligned. Now a movement in thedirection of arrow 6 can take place with the arm rests 5 being liftedupwardly. By releasing the arm rest 5 in the downward direction once thedesired incline position has been reached, the release bolt 12 is alsomoved downwardly so that the metal plate 3 is again clamped by thelocking rod 1.

List of Reference Numerals

[0025]1 locking rod

[0026]2 bore

[0027]3 metal plate

[0028]4 initial position

[0029]5 arm rest

[0030]6 direction of arrow

[0031]7 clamping position

[0032]8 edge

[0033]9 edge

[0034]10 upper plane

[0035]11 lower plane

[0036]12 release bolt

[0037]13 slide

[0038]14 guide

[0039]15 guide

[0040]16 spring

[0041]17 groove

[0042]18 groove

[0043]19 vertical cutout

[0044]20 top side

1. A device for adjusting the incline of back rests, especially forcamping chairs and lawn chairs, wherein the locking action of the backrest is realized by an edge wedging mechanism, characterized in that thelocking action is released by lifting at least one of the arm rests (5).2. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that a locking rod(1) connected to one of the arm rests (5) is guided through a bore (2)in a metal plate (3) which is spring-mounted on a slide (13).
 3. Thedevice according to claim 2 , characterized in that the metal plate (3)has two planes (10, 11) which are positioned at an angle, preferably of5° to 25°, to one another.
 4. The device according to claim 2 or 3 ,characterized in that a release bolt (12) is integrated in the slide(13) via which the slide (13) is guided in a groove (17, 18) of the armrest (5).
 5. The device according to claim 4 , characterized in that therelease bolt (12) is moved upwardly along the lower slanted plane (11)of the plate by lifting at least one arm rest (5), so that the metalplate (3) stands up in a direction against the spring force so that thebore (2) in the metal plate (3) is aligned with the locking rod (1). 6.The device according to claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that the releasebolt (12) is vertically guided in the slide (13).
 7. The deviceaccording to one of the claims 2 to 6 , characterized in that additionalguides (14, 15) for the locking rod (1) are integrated in the slide(13).
 8. The device according to one of the claims 2 to 7 ,characterized in that the chair legs or lawn chair legs are connected tothe slide (13).
 9. The device according to one of the claims 2 to 8 ,characterized in that the slide (13) is secured on the top side (20) ofthe arm rest (5) against sliding out.
 10. The device according to one ofthe proceeding claims, characterized in that the arm rest (5) is formedwith a U-shaped cross-section.